How to Develop Wearable Tech that Works

It seems that just a few years ago, the idea of wearable tech only existed in the minds of sci-fi writers. And yet, just last year alone thewearable device market generated just over30 billion dollars in revenue. The time of wearable devices and IoT solutions has come much faster than most expected, leaving many to wonder what comes next.

As a software development company, we are set to unpack the latest trends and find ways to bring new technologies to market that not only compliment them, but enhance them. In this article, we are going to walk you through how to develop wearable tech. However, while it’s impressive to create wearable tech at all, we want to help you develop wearable tech that works. Let’s get started.

The importance of good wearable tech

First, let’s talk about the importance of creating good wearable tech. Unlikemobile app development, wearable devices are made to be worn almost constantly both night and day. While fitness trackers like the Fitbit have been some of the most popular early pioneers of wearable devices, more companies are beginning to branch into more all-purpose technology.

When someone is using a wearable device connected with anIoT platform, the slightest hiccup in the code can cause major issues. Designers need to work off of user stories to create the best possible solutions that are equipped to handle the amount of information that will be passed through wearable tech as this market continues to grow. Without good development, wearables will simply be a fad instead of the revolutionary technology it could be.

Features of outstanding wearable tech

Part of creating wearable tech that works well is to include features that take advantage of the way we interact with wearable devices. Unlike with earlyapp development, wearable apps should not be simply copies of existing apps. Instead, they should be approached as a new category of app development and treated as such throughout.

If you are hoping to create wearable tech that works well and shows off the features of the devices, make sure to include these functions.

Intuitive notifications

As we mentioned earlier, wearable devices are unique in that they are always either on or close to the person using them. While this does allow for some unique design challenges, it also warrants a different approach to software development. One of the first ways to create wearable tech that works for the end user is by making sure to have intuitive notifications.

What we mean by that is that users should only receive notifications that are pertinent to their current situation. Thankfully, with the power ofUX design and user metrics, you can design wearable tech that reacts to the users and delivers notifications appropriate for their current situation.

For example, while users may be interested to learn about their sleeping habits, sending them a notification with the results may not be appropriate. Especially if the notification wakes them up while trying to monitor sleeping habits. Information like this, while important to the user, is not worth a notification. Simply make it easy for them to find when they go to access it themselves.

Biometrics

Speaking of sleep patterns, one of the biggest emerging fields in wearable tech is biometrics. However, recent breakthroughs in biometrics show that the possibilities for this feature far surpass simply recording sleep patterns. For instance,one group of researchers is working on a way for users to charge their wearable devices simply by walking.

Since the world of biometrics is still rapidly evolving, it may be too early to predict where it will go. On the other hand, this also means that anything is possible and the sky is the limit. Developers hoping to break into the world of wearable tech should invest in biometrics for their devices, as this will likely be the area with the largest breakthroughs.

Low energy consumption

Another unique way in which developers must design wearable tech is that, since it is worn on the person, you need to have a long battery life. After all, if you are wearing aIoT enabled running shirt, you can’t exactly take it off and charge it whenever you need. The best way to ensure that wearable tech has the legs it needs it through low energy consumption.

While there are researchers working on re-chargeable wearable tech that works while you use it, the future of technology in general needs to work on low energy consuming devices. Like biometrics, this is an area that has not seen as much research, but has the potential for revolutionary tech to come from it. Keep this in mind as you plan out your wearable tech development.

Fashion

The final feature of wearable tech that is more important here than with something likeapp design is fashion. While wearables are not the first technology to include a fashionable element, they are the first to need both a clean cut look and powerful functionality. While software developers aren’t notorious for their fashion sense, that may need to change.

After all, one of the biggest hurdles that wearable tech developers will have to overcome is creating an item that people will actually want to wear. It would be a shame to spend so much time creating wonderful software that no one gets to take advantage of because of poor design. Overcome this early by making fashion a focus from the beginning of your development.

Are you reading for the wearable revolution?

Good, because it’s already happening. As we mentioned earlier, the wearable tech market is already worth billions of dollars and that is only expected to increase over the next few years. As devices become more interconnected, wearables will continue to play a part in the digital ecosystem. If you aren’t already ready, strap in.

We hope that this article was able to give you somebusiness ideas for your own wearable tech venture. Soon, more players will be moving into the market and the ability to set yourself apart will become tougher and tougher. Instead of waiting, start your project today! You’ll be happy that you did.